MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. - The Cal Poly Humboldt women's cross country team will open its 2026 season Saturday morning when the Lumberjacks host the Jim Hunt Invitational at Beau Pre Golf Club.

The women's 6K is scheduled to begin at 10:10 a.m.

Saturday's meet will be Humboldt's lone home competition of the season and will include a high school division for the first time in the event's history.

BACK AT BEAU PRE

The Jim Hunt Invitational provides the Lumberjacks with an opportunity to begin the season on familiar ground.

Beau Pre Golf Club offers spectators several opportunities to see the runners throughout the race and has become the home course for one of the North Coast's premier cross country events.

Saturday will also mark the beginning of Humboldt's first season under head coach Michael Schroer.

DEFENDING THE HOME COURSE

Humboldt enters the meet as the defending Jim Hunt Invitational champion after capturing the 2025 team title with 32 points. The Lumberjacks finished 26 points ahead of runner-up Southern Oregon.

Brinna Weiseth led Humboldt's returning runners at last year's meet, placing fourth in 23:31.32. Charlotte Leonard followed with a sixth-place finish in 23:42.34, while Lyla Fedio crossed the line 11th in 23:57.11.

Maddie McKenna and Izzi Peila added top-20 performances, finishing 19th and 20th, respectively. That returning group gives the Lumberjacks experience and familiarity as they prepare to defend their home-course title.

Saturday's race will provide Humboldt's returning athletes with their first opportunity to build on last season while giving the program's newcomers their first collegiate competition in the Green and Gold.

The Lumberjacks' 2026 roster features a mixture of veteran leadership and young talent, including four seniors and six freshmen. Humboldt will look to establish its pack and build momentum before beginning the road portion of its schedule.

HOW TO TUNE IN

Saturday at Jim Hunt Invitational: Live Results - Meet Information

UP NEXT

The Lumberjacks will return to competition Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Mike Johnson Classic, hosted by Western Oregon at Ash Creek Preserve in Monmouth, Oregon.

For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt cross country, visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app on Apple iOS or Google Android, and follow the Lumberjacks on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Facebook.

Instagram: @humboldt.athletics
Twitter/X: @HumboldtJacks
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